North Korea launches Earth observation satellite

Following North Korea’s long-range rocket launch on Sunday, South Korean and U.S. military officials announced they would begin formal discussions on placing the Terminal High Altitude Area Defence System (THAAD) on the North’s doorstep.

Sunday’s launch has drawn widespread condemnation from around the world as a cover for a ballistic missile test banned under U.N. Security Council resolutions.

BRITAIN led criticism of North Korea after the rogue state fired a long-range rocket, triggering claims it was testing ballistic missile technology.

China on Sunday expressed “regret” over North Korea’s controversial satellite launch, but advised that the situation must be dealt with calmly and through sustained dialogue.

Harris last month told the Center for worldwide and Strategic Studies think tank that he was a strong advocate of building and expanding multilateral relationships in the region, including one among the United States, Japan and South Korea.

The Pentagon said on Monday it would hold talks with Seoul on a new missile defense system following North Korea’s rocket launch this weekend.

The US has also said it will help South Korea deploy an advanced missile defence system as soon as possible, officials from the Pentagon have said.

“As with the fourth nuclear test by North Korea on January 6, this launch constitutes once again a total disregard to regional and global security and stability”, the Turkish Foreign Ministry said in a statement. The tests prompted UN Security Council members to impose sanctions against the country, which is already under sanctions for its nuclear and missile programmes.

In a telephone conversation on Tuesday, Park and Obama agreed various sanctions outside the United Nations were also needed to punish North Korea, Park’s office said in a statement.

North Korea said the launch of the satellite Kwangmyongsong-4, named after late leader Kim Jong Il, was a “complete success” and it was making a polar orbit of Earth every 94 minutes. According to the ABC News, a U.S. official revealed that the missile was launched from western North Korea at 7:29 PM ET, with the Japanese government confirming a traveled distance of 2,000 kilometers south.

“That means considering a range of economic sanctions that would further isolate North Korea”, Earnest said.